“All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable.” 1 Corinthians 10:23a (NASB)
We all gravitate towards the things we like … the things that are easy for us … the things we prefer. And we all tend to avoid the things we don’t like … the things that are hard for us … the things take more work. It’s part of human nature. That’s why Paul reminds us to choose wisely.
The same is true in regard to caring for our bodies. Maybe you are into eating well, but not into exercising … or vice-versa. Perhaps you love cardio-training but not resistance training. Perhaps you are great at working your body but not at giving it the proper rest it needs. God gives us the freedom to choose — to decide how we spend our time & energy in stewarding what He has given us. Yes, it is lawful for you to do your sixth cardio workout of the week … but perhaps it would be more profitable to do some resistance training … or even to rest your body. Yes, you can work out like a fiend and then go”reward” yourself with a burger & fries. But perhaps it would be more profitable to reward your body with what it really needs (like proteins, fruits & vegetables).
For me, I need reminders to choose wisely about as many things as I can. So, here’s your reminder:
All things are lawful. But not all things are profitable. Choose wisely.